Watch stem setter and winder



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Application January 16, 1950, Serial No. 138,800

This invention relates to a tool for use in setting and winding watch stems, the primary object of which is to enable the watchmaker to wind or unwind the main spring and to set hands when checking alignment without the necessity of putting the watch back in the case.

The present tool is designed for use with a female watch stem from which a male crown has been removed. This type of female stem includes a socket at one end for snap engage ment with a male type crown well known in the art of jewelry. An important object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a tool in which a knob may be projected for snap engagement with the socket of a female watch stem and in which the knob may be lockingly retained securely in place by a simple release mechanism.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tool of the character described which is relatively simple in design and construction, inexpensive to manufacture in large quantities, very simple to operate, and very efficient for its intended purpose.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a tool for setting and winding a watch stem having a socket at one end, comprising a substantially cylindrical body having an axial bore, a rod slidable in said bore having a knob on one end adapted to be received in the stem socket, a handle secured to the other end of said rod having a reduced portion slidable in said body, and resilient means normally urging said knob inwardly of said body.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the tool;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the tool;

Figure 3 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 2 and illustrating the manner in which the knob is projected from the tool;

Figure 4 is an end elevational view taken from the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the head of the tool and illustrating the manner of attaching the knob to the socket of a watch stem, the knob, knob carrying member, and stem being shown in elevation.

1 Claim. (01, 817.5)

Specific reference will now be made to the drawings. In the several views, in the accompanying drawings and in the following specification, similar'reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout.

Indicated generally at I0 is a substantially cylindrical body having an axial bore I2 therethrough. The body I0 is reduced as at I4 and includes a head portion I 6 having an enlarged axial bore I8 therethrough which is communicative with the first-named bore I2. The bore I2 is further communicative with a third enlarged bore 20 forming a shoulder 22 within the body for a purpose later to be described. The third enlarged bore 20 is further communicative with a fourth enlarged bore 24 opening through the rear end of the body I0.

Slidable through the bores I2, 20 and 24 of the body I0 is a rod 26 which is threaded at its rear end, as at 28, and received thereat in a reduced portion 30 of a handle portion 32. As will be readily understood with reference to the drawings, the reduced portion 30 is slidable within the enlarged bore 24.

The forward end of the rod 26 is provided with an enlarged portion 34 which has a knob 36 at its free end, the enlarged portion 34 being slidable in the bore I8 and being limited in its inward movement by the shoulder 38 formed at the junction between the axial bore I2 and the bore I8 in the head I6. Wound about the rod 26 is a coil spring 40 which is received in the bore 20 and extends into the bore 24 and is interposed between the shoulder 22 and the free edge of the reduced portion 30 of the handle 32. The spring 40 is so tensioned as to urge the handle 32 to the left of the figures so that the knob 36 is Wholly confined within the bore I8 of the head I6 as shown clearly in Figure 2.

In use, after the male crown (not shown) has been removed from the watch stem 42 having the female socket 43, the body I0 is moved toward the handle 32 against the action of the spring 40,. as shown clearly in Figure 3, to project the knob 36 from the end of the head I6. The knob 36 is then made to engage the socket of the watch stem, and when the body I0 is released, the spring 40 will expand to push the body so that the latter assumes the position shown in Figure 2. Inasmuch as the knob 36 is smaller in diameter than the internal diameter of the bore I 8 in the head IS, the latter will slip over the end of the watch stem having the socket and lockingly and securely retain the knob 36 in engagement with the socketed end of the stem.

The tool may then be rotated to wind the stem and set the hands when checking alignment without the necessity of putting the watch back into the case.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A tool for setting and winding a watch stem having a socket at one end comprising a substantially cylindrical body having an axial bore, a rod slidable in the bore having a knob on one end adapted to be received in the stem socket, a handle secured to the other end of the rod 4 having a reduced portion slidable in the body, and resilient means normally urging said knob inwardly of said body, said body including a head portion having an enlarged bore therethrough communicative with said first bore, said knob being normally disposed within said enlarged bore, said head portion being adapted to engage the stem and lockingly retain the knob in the stem socket when the former is projected into the latter; said body including a further enlarged bore communicative with said first-named bore for receiving said reduced portion and a shoulder in said body, said resilient means including a coil. spring wound about said rod and interposed between said shoulder and said reduced portion.

JAMES H. RUTHER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Meerlender Nov. 16, 1886 Number 

